Saturday Night Hockey

Lineup NOTables

Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens

Washington: Niclas Backstrom (concussion), Mike Green (hernia), and Tom Poti (groin) are out. Tomas Vokoun is expected to start.
Montreal: Andrei "Right Knee" Markov, Ryan White (hernia), Brian Gionta (bicep), Travis Moen (upper body), and Petteri Nokelainen (upper body) are out. Carey Price starts.

Vancouver Canucks vs. Colorado Avalanche

Vancouver: Andrew Ebbett (collarbone), Steven Pinizzotto (shoulder), Aaron Volpatti (shoulder), and Chris Higgins (illness) are out. Roberto Luongo is starting.
Colorado: Just Matt Duchene (knee) is out. J-S Giguere might be starting.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators

Toronto: Just Darryl Boyce (back) is out. Jonas Gustavsson is expected to start.
Ottawa: Peter Regan (shoulder) and Jesse Winchester (concussion) are out. Craig Anderson starts tonight.

Detroit Red Wings vs. Edmonton Oilers

Detroit: Patrick Eaves (jaw), and Jimmy Howard (finger) are out. Ty Conklin is in net.
Edmonton: Tom Gilbert (ankle) is out while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (shoulder) and Theo Peckham (face) are questionable. Devan Dubnyk might start.

Saturday Night Hockey: All Star Catch Up Edition

Working again so I won't be around to recap the skills competition. Here are my predictions though:

Event: Hardest Shot
Prediction: Team Chara
Reason: They have Chara, 'nuff said.

Event: Accuracy Shooting
Prediction: Team Alfredsson
Reason: This one is tough, but I think Team Alfie has the edge in shooting.

Event: Fastest Skater
Prediction: Team Alfredsson
Reason: Again, I think Team Alfie has a slight edge.

Event: Fastest Goalie
Prediction: Team Alfredsson
Reason: They have a goalie named Quick, it almost writes itself.

Event: Trick Shot Competition
Prediction: Team Chara
Reason: Pavel "Dangle Dangle Deke" Datsyuk carries them in this event.

Tim Thomas Doesn't Care About Presidents

So Tim Thomas didn't show up to the White House celebration of the Bruins Stanley Cup. Then he goes on Facebook and tries to save face with what was a pretty lame excuse.  Every angle from "he has the right as a free citizen to protest in his own way" to "he missed a team function, suspend him".

I'm in-between. On one hand (and while I don't share his views) good on Tim Thomas for standing up for his political views. On the other hand, he did miss what was essentially a team function.

Either way, if you have the chance to visit the President of the United States, why would you pass up that opportunity? Even if he's not your guy, it's one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities (based off the average person).

Ovi Suspended, Skips All Star Game

Nice to see Ovechkin play on the edge.

After what was a barely illegal (he did leave his skates) hit, Ovi got suspended three games. Seems fair after watching the Shanaban video. The problem: this suspension goes past the All Star Game. The situation was that even if a player is suspended, he is allowed to participate.

I originally respected Ovechkin for this move, saying that he was suspended by the league so why does he have to go to a league event. Where he lost it is saying it was about getting suspended. I do agree that the hit probably didn't warrant the length of it (maybe a game or two at most), but with all the factors in place, he did deserve to sit out a game.

Tampa Bay Places Mascot On Waivers

After what is some minor mascot fun of pulling silly string on an opposing fan, Thunderbug (the Lightning now ex-mascot) was let go, because Bruins fans are too damn serious. The video has since been taken off of Youtube.

Story from the vault time kids, gather around:

Before becoming the hardcore Habs fan I am now, I enjoyed the Canucks. In 1998, I was at a Canucks/Flames game and was waving my little Canucks flag. Over comes Harvey the Hound (mascot of the Flames). So he starts having some fun with me and blocking my view of the game for a few seconds. Afterwards, he turns around and pretends to blow his nose on my flag.

Looking back, I can't remember my reaction was (I was seven) but I didn't complain about it, and I probably laughed it off. This might be the catalyst for two things:

1. MDK saying Havery is his favourite mascot.
2. Craig MacTavish being my "favourite coach"

Photo courtesy of karma

For the record, I am at peace with Harvey.

NHL All Star Game Draft Review

Team Rosters

Captain - Zdeno Chara
Alternate Captain - Joffrey Lupul (wait what?)
1st- Pavel Datsyuk
2nd- Tim Thomas
3rd- Evgeni Malkin
4th- Marian Hossa
5th- Kimmo Timonen
6th- Corey Perry
7th- Carey Price
8th- Phil Kessel (wait what?)
9th- Ryan Suter
10th- Jimmy Howard
11th- Brian Campbell
12th- Patrick Kane
13th- Dion Phaneuf
14th- Jarome Iginla
15th- Dennis Wideman
16th- Marian Gaborik
17th- Jordan Eberle
18th- Tyler Seguin
19th- Jamie Benn

Captain - Daniel Alfredsson
Alternate Captain - Henrik Lundqvist
1st- Erik Karlsson
2nd- Jason Spezza
3rd- Jonathan Quick
4th- Claude Giroux
5th- Kris Letang
6th- Steven Stamkos
7th- Brian Elliot
8th- Shea Weber
9th- Daniel Sedin
10th- Dan Girardi
11th- Keith Yandle
12th- Milan Michalek
13th- Henrik Sedin
14th- James Neal
15th- Alex Edler
16th- John Tavares
17th- Scott Hartnell
18th- Jason Pominville
19th- Logan Couture

Observations of the Draft

• It was smart of Chara for picking Datsyuk first, knowing that Alfie would got with his Swedish teammate (Karlsson) as his first pick.
• Tim Thomas was reportedly disappointed with Chara not picking all right wings.
• Jamie Duthie is right. Jason Spezza should be on the TSN panel.
• Carey's reaction to getting picked: Price-less

• God damn Lupul. Everyone knows Kessel should have been last again.
• Speaking of Lupul, his string of American picks made him qualified to be Burke's new assistant GM.
• Alfie had to pick Shea Weber, who else can get close to Chara in the Hardest Shot competition?
• I realized that Chara was trying not to pick a Canuck, but it seems that they wanted the Sedin's to be split up again (7 picks between the two).
• Oh, and nice chirp by Henrik.
• Love the crowd chanting "Over-Rated" to Dion Phaneuf.
• Was it smart having Iginla taken after Phaneuf and making them sit together?
• I don't know if you can count Rapheal Diaz a rookie, he turned 26 a few weeks ago
• Gaborik proved the drafts only blooper: going to the wrong team's stands.
• Alfie picked Hartnell, how much do you think it was hair-related?
• What a tender moment between Chara and Seguin
• "Sweating It Out" Award Winner: Tyler Seguin
• "Phil Kessel" Award Winner: Phil Kessel Logan Couture

One More Thought

This isn't draft-related, but since the All Star game is basically the highest-skilled game of shinny (a.k.a no contact), shouldn't concussed players not be excused from this game? I realized (for a lack of a better term) that there is more than just avoiding contact to the head when your trying to recover, but for guys who are close-but-not-quite-ready-yet to play again when coming back from one, this game can serve as a tune up.

Happy Finally-Eligible-To-Be-A-Professional-Day Bergy

Yes, I'm posting a birthday post dedicated to one of my bestest buds in the whole world, Andrew Bergmann.

Not shown on his hockeydb page is how much bad luck he has had. Going undrafted in the WHL Bantam draft, getting cut from Swift Current, Vancouver, and Prince George. Now he's settled in Alberta Junior B, playing for the Strathmore Wheatkings. He currently leads the team with 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists).

So cheers Bergmann. Lets hope you have a better pro career then your junior one.

Saturday Night Hockey

Working all day, so you know the drill.

Lineup NOTables

San Jose Sharks vs. Vancouver Canucks

San Jose: Ryan Clowe, Martin Havlat (hamstring surgery), Tommy Wingel (upper body), and Jim Vandermeer (upper body) are out. Antti Neimi will start.
Vancouver: Aaron Vopatti (shoulder), Steven Pinizzotto (shoulder), Andrew Ebbett (collarbone), and Sami Salo (Marchand-ed concussion) are out. Roberto Luongo is expected to start.

Ottawa Senators vs. Anaheim Ducks

Mustache Power: Peter Regin (shoulder) and Jesse Winchester (concussion) are out while Zack Smith (head) and Kaspars Daugavins (leg) are questionable. Craig Anderson gets the start.
BBQ Sauce Power: Devante Smith-Pelly (foot) and Dan Ellis (groin) are out. Jonas Hiller starts today.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Fire the GM: Andrei "Right Knee" Markov, Brian Gionta (bicep surgery), and Ryan White (hernia). Carey Price starts tonight.
Just a Bad GM: Colby Armstrong (concussion) and John Michael-Liles (concussion) are out. Jonas Gustavsson might start.

Florida Panthers vs. Winnipeg Jets (ah, a good old Southeast battle. Wait, what?)

Sunshine: Marco Sturm (head), Sean Bergenheim (lower body), Ed Jovanovski (hand), and Jacob Markstrom (knee) are out.Scott Clemmensen is in net.
Winter-peg: Dustin Byfuglien (knee) and Derek Meech (lower body) are out. Ondrej Pavelec will start.

Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers

Building it Wrong: Curtis Glencross (knee), David Moss (ankle), Derek Smith (high ankle sprain), and Henrik Karlsson (sprain MCL) are out while Alex Tanguay (upper body) and Brendan Morrison (upper body) are questionable. Mikka Kiprusoff starts tonight
Building it Right: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (shoulder), Ryan Whitney (ankle), Tom Gilbert (ankle), and Cam Barker (ankle) are out while Taylor Hall (face), Jordan Eberle (knee), and Eric Belanger (leg) are questionable. Nikolai Khabibulin is expected to start.